Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by seizures. An individual who has had only one seizure doesn’t qualify as having epilepsy until and unless they have subsequent seizures. Not every person who suffers a seizure will have another seizure.

Seizures can take many forms, some causing loss of consciousness and the jerking of limbs that most people associate with a seizure, often referred to as a grand mal seizure. Seizures may not be associated with any movement and instead are notable for staring off spells which are brief, yet others may make a person seem temporarily confused.

Seizures require a thorough work up and classification to ensure appropriate treatment. Most can be treated with a class of medications call the anti-epileptic drugs, or AED’s. Your work up may include an EEG and an MRI, sometimes other testing including multiday EEG’s are needed.